FROM THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY

APRIL 26, 2010

Barry Estabrook - Barry Estabrook
is a former contributing editor at Gourmet magazine. His work on a dairy farm and fishing boat taught him that writing about food was easier than producing it.

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Feds on GMO Labeling: Don't Tell, Don't Ask
APR 26 2010, 8:33 AM ET | Comment

If you were hoping there might be some change in the U.S. government's official position on genetically modified and genetically engineered (GM/GE) foods under the Obama administration, tough luck.

Last month there was the appointment of big-time GM/GE advocate (and former Monsanto lobbyist) Islam Siddiqui to Office of the United States Trade Representative as the country's chief agricultural negotiator . Now comes a position paper from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that opposes labeling for genetically modified food. The U.S. claims that letting consumers know whether or not food contains GM/GE products is "false, misleading, or deceptive."

You read that correctly. In Obama Newspeak, telling the public the truth is false, misleading, or deceptive, while concealing facts is not. Incidentally, the language is identical to that used by previous administrations. How's that for change?

The policy prompted yowls of outrage form more than 80 organic, environmental, food-production, and public-health groups. They dispatched a letter earlier this week urging Michael Taylor, who is deputy commissioner for foods at the FDA, and Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of agriculture, to reconsider (click here for a PDF). "We are concerned that the current U.S. position could potentially create serious problems for food processors in the U.S. who wish to indicate that their products contain no GE ingredients, including on organic food," the letter said.

The administration intends to argue its position at a meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling, a United Nations body that sets labeling rules for food in international trade. Codex will be meeting from May 3 to May 7 in Quebec City. The government feels Codex should not "suggest or imply that GM/GE foods are in any way different from other foods."

http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/04/feds-on-gmo-labeling-dont-tel...


POWERFUL COMMENTARY



FROM OVALORBIT
on the ATLANTIC

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This is what I have stated when signing the petition and will be passing along to all the necessary officials, politicians and decision-makers:

This has to stop! Listen to the people. We demand GMO labeling! NOW! Do not sweep this under the rug. You must stop this nonsense now. We are only going to continue to grow in numbers. We, the people of these United States of of this world, deserve a right to know what is going into the foods we consume and feed our children. Do you know my family has been riddled with "mysterious" health issues for the past decade? No doctor can give any conclusive reasons for my hyperparathyroidism - which required surgical removal of a tumor; or for my colitis - which "mysteriously" presented itself in 2003; or for my raynauds; or my PSVT; or my migraines; or my hypoglycemia; or for mine or my son's allergies; or my sister's hyperparathyroidism (unfamilial type). The list goes on and on. My money says many of these "mysterious" conditions are the result of GMO's in our food supply. My son was given soy formula as a baby because of colic. That's all he was allowed to eat the entire first year of his life. As a young child, he loved corn and would eat it every chance he had. Coincidentally, he developed allergies, chronic nose bleeds, fatigue and leg "growing pains". He and I both have to take allergy shots now. I have to take prescription medication to control my colitis. Neither of us is obese or have ever eaten a high fat, high cholesterol diet. My sister has always prepared her meals at home, fresh, unprocessed food. I know these GMOs have contributed to hour health problems. Had we known these foods were tainted with genetic tampering, pesticide absorbing plants, hormones, and herbacide, we would NOT have chosen these foods every day of our lives all these years! We demand a right to know what is being put into our food supply! And furthermore, we deserve and demand the right to grow and produce our own natural foods if we choose to do so! I'm passing this along to every person I know - every employee in my company in Atlanta, GA, every church friend, every family member, every blog I post to with my automated software (HUNDREDS AT A TIME - DAILY!). I and the others like me will NOT be quieted! Not with out a fight. We demand the truth on our labeling. We demand healthy food for our children. We demand the constitution of the United States be followed by our leaders! NOW!



 

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